A very niche Forcemaster Build - Anti Swarm.

[Jon.Ambriz]

So, while thinking back to the Gen Con tournament, and reading some build concepts around the forums, I noticed that there is no niche "anti-swarm" builds; given the popularity of swarm books, I figured I would take a crack at building a book designed around "anti-swarms" with a solo mage build. So, what better mage to try this out with than THE solo Mage for the game - The Forcemaster.

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Anti-Swarm[/spellbookname]
[mage]Forcemaster[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1a03]1 x  Electrify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a09]1 x  Jet Stream[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a12]1 x  Ring of Fire[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]3 x  Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1w04]1 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]1 x  Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x  Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j21]1 x  Suppression Orb[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW02]1 x  Wall of Bones[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j14]1 x  Mana Siphon[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j16]1 x  Mordok's Obelisk[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWE05]1 x  Forcefield[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e07]1 x  Cobra Reflexes[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]1 x  Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e21]1 x  Hawkeye[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e24]1 x  Magebane[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e06]1 x  Circle of Lightning[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE01]3 x  Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e02]2 x  Block[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e09]1 x  Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e15]1 x  Essence Drain[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE01]1 x Adramelech's Touch[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWQ04]1 x  Galvitar, Force Blade[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q04]1 x  Deflection Bracers[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x  Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ01]1 x  Dancing Scimitar[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ01]1 x  Sunfire Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ07]1 x  Veteran's Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ04]1 x  Reflex Boots[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x  Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI01]1 x  Combustion[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI05]1 x  Ignite[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x  Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]2 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]1 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i01]1 x  Banish[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

Now, the idea behind this build is that if a Mage starts to build for a swarm A) in their starting zone, or B) in one of the near center zones, the Forcemaster can either move to near center with Cheetah Speed turn 1, then Hawkeye/Force Hammer turn 2 to drop the Spawnpoint, or Hawkeye then Move to Force Hammer turn 1 then double Force Hammer to drop the Spawnpoint turn 2. Now, this book doesn't have a lot of kill potential, but the Mage Wand/Ignite with Adramelech's Touch + Combustion should take care of that.

Of course the tried and true anti-swarm cards are in: Mordok's Obelisk, Suppression Orb, Charm, and Essence Drain. Like I said, this is a very, very, VERY niche build.

[Jon.Ambriz]

The dreaded double post...

But, I realized I could make this better with a Air Wizard, but Forcemaster has the innate tankiness that comes with an embedded defense, and Forcefield.

[DaveW]

Now, this book doesn't have a lot of kill potential, but the Mage Wand/Ignite with Adramelech's Touch + Combustion should take care of that.

I haven't found the Burn game very appealing (though I've only used the new Warlock once so far). The trouble that you may have using Ignite / Adramelech's Touch / Combustion is that 1) when someone sees you spamming Ignite, the Wand (and its replacement, if you add one) will get dissolved, and/or 2) as soon as you put burns on a few creatures, either a Wand of Healing or Renewing Spring will be brought out to remove Burns and the damage done by them.

Although I don't see it very often, I wonder how early wall play could affect you. Either you use the Force Hammers on the walls, or save them for what lays behind them.

You've got all of four Ranged attacks... the Hawkeye seems to be of very limited use with the Forcemaster (and really contrary to what the FM wants... to close fast and melee. If you did this build with a Wizard instead, the Hawkeye would be useful with the Arcane Zap, at least.

[sshroom]

You can't ignite something that already has a burn condition a d only the Adremelach Warlock can move burns around. So slamming Ignite won't do much and Combustion will yield at most a two die attack

[Myrddin]

If you're going explicitly for anti-swarm, it might be better to not go all-out on their spawnpoint: let them commit to the swarm strategy properly and then start the mana drain.

Personally I'd do this with a Wizard: his voltaric shield makes him pretty solid as a tank, and the tower can be a major force multiplier once you've built up a mana advantage. Plus you can max out essence drains, which are an obvious solution if the swarm player reacts to Mordok's Obelisk and Suppression orb by switching to a few larger creatures.